The Booke of the Universall Kirk of Scotland / Wherein the Headis and Conclusionis Devysit Be the Ministers and Commissionaris of the Particular Kirks Thereof, Are Specially Expressed and Contained.

by Unknown

It is thocht meit to be cravit of his heines, that the Kirk of God within this realme may be restorit to the benefice, of the act of parliament made concerning the thirds, in respect of the many and grievous hurts qwhereby the Kirk recognises to have receavit be the takeing away of the said act from them; Therefore it is thought expedient the Moderator, with sic as are assessors to him upon the articles, and, namely, upon the article of repositione and restitutione to be presentit againe to the Kirk, and considerit be commone advyce and consent of the Kirk.

Sessio 8.

Compeirit Mr Henrie Keir, servitor to the Earle of Lennox, and declareit, that albeit he had lang remainit in blindness and papistrie, it pleasit God to illuminat him and call him to the knawledge of the trew word qwherein be his grace he is now resolvit, acknauledging the same word to be trewlie preached and professit within this realme, and be act of parliament established, and to be the only trew religione of God, qwherin he is content aither now or when the King’s Majestie’s house beis settled, with his heart to subscryve at the will of the Kirk as they sall think best.

It is, be vote of the haill Assembly, after lang disputatione, resolvit and concludit, that it is not lawfull be the word of God, that ane pastor be burdenit with the charge of feeding of twa particular flocks or mare congregationes nor ane, nor yet bear the name or be callit pastor of moe kirks nor ane.

The Generall Assemblie of the Kirk hes statute, that the Commissioners of Countries shall call persones who hes, after their professione of religion within the country, declynit to idolatrie, and now returnit within the countrie, ilk ane within their awne bounds, before their Synodall Assemblies, and accuse them thereof: if they be tryit to have committit the said defectione, to charge them to make repentance thereof, under the paine of excommunicatione; and gif they disobey, to be excommunicat be sic persones to be appoyntit be the Synodall Assemblie to that effect, lawfull admonitiones preceiding; and if they offer obedience and repentance, to superceid the taking thereof, the forme of the same be advysed on the next Generall Assembly, suspending them, in the meantyme, from the participatione of the sacraments qwhill the said Assembly; and heirin to report their diligence thairto, as they will answer to God—and the same order to be observit with them that willinglie acknowledges the said defectione, and comes and offers their repentance.

Compeirit Captaine Anstruther, and lamentit to the Kirk, that he beand in France, and certaine years bypast had gine his bodilie presence to the Masse, albeit in conscience he hated the same as idolatrie, and keepit alwayes upricht mynde towards the religione profest in this realme, and feeling grief in his conscience for his defectione, is come to utter his repentance unfainedly for the same, submitting him to whatsumever correctione the Kirk will injoyne him, desyrand to be reconcillit thereto; and, in token of his sincere meining, held up his hand as to the boutcherie and massacre of Paris, declares he keepit the King’s ʒett of Lovar, the tyme thereof, but past no farther.

Because some breither meaned, that the transporting of Mr Andrew Melvill and Thomas Smetoune sould be many wayes hurtfull, and aucht not to be permittit; at the desyre of their breither Mr Andrew Hay, alleadgeand that he had many greit reasones privatly to propone, if the Kirk wald agrie thereto, appoynted the Moderator with his assessors to the heiring thereof.

Sessio 9.

Anent the act made in the last Assemblie, concerning the suspension of Visitors from giving collatione of benefices to uthers nor serves actuallie at the kirks where the samen vaiks, under the paines expressed in the said act; The Kirk ordaynis the said act to stand in full strenth, with this additione, That if any collatione or admissione beis gine be any Visitor againes the tenor thereof, shall be null and of nane availl; and sicklyke declares all collations and admissions that shall be gine heirafter be any pretending the style of bischops, shall be null in the selfe, in tyme cuming.

Sessio 10.